So, here is the question: Which red will you choose? Need help deciding? Try one on using our Virtual Try-on Tool. If you need an extra hand, call or chat with our Color Crew . You can even book a complimentary virtual Video Color Consultation with a licensed colorist.
The Definitive Guide to Red Hair Color: How to Get It and Care for It
Red hair is always chic. Whether you’re a seasoned red head or ready to try something new, every complexion can rock a red color thanks to its wide spectrum of shades—from “ ronze” to burgundy to cinnamon to copper. Red is also a great way to stand out from the crowd. (Did you know that less than 2% of the population are redheads? Well, natural redheads, that is, but we won’t tell if you won’t. )
Want help choosing the right red for you? We’ve got our favorite five red hair color shades here. We’ll also share some hair tips for keeping that red looking healthy, shiny, and turning heads.
In this article:
– Five of our Favorite Red Hair Color Shades
– How to Choose the Right Red for You
– Four Tips to Keep Your Red from Fading
5 OF OUR FAVORITE RED HAIR COLOR SHADES
Medium Auburn Red
Say hello to posh Portofino Red. Formulated with a natural base and a double dose of red, this vibrant auburn is our truest medium crimson tone and looks great on a variety of skin tones. It’s a deeper, moodier red, saturated in drama and intensity.
Light Spicy Copper Red
Blow them all away with the striking color of Vesuvius. This fiery auburn hue with coppery red tones makes an impact wherever it goes. It’s ideal for warm skin tones with its bold, breathtaking coverage.
Light Apricot Golden Red
Genova Red may just be your new go-to thanks to its soft, natural-looking color and effortless flexibility. This auburn hair color shade has glimmering copper and gold undertones that shimmer and shine in the sun…so get out and show it off. Genova Red complements warm or cool fair skin tones.
Medium Cayenne Red
One of Madison Reed’s most vivid shades, Savona Scarlet will stop traffic in the best of ways. It dishes out rich auburn color with gorgeous red tones, while delivering incredible depth and gem-like radiance. It looks amazing on warm or cool complexions.
Light Ginger Copper Red
Channel your inner Christina Hendricks with Carrara Crimson. This vivacious and playful tone is a light red with hints of vibrant copper. It’s packed with bombshell swagger, making cool-fair complexions glow, and light eye colors pop.
How to Choose the Right Red for You
Not yet red, but want to take the plunge? Proceed with confidence by understanding your skin town and undertones.
Get a free Video Color Consultation with a Licensed Colorist Concierge.
What’s the difference between skin tone and undertone?
Your skin tone is what you probably reach for in the makeup aisle: fair/light, medium, tan, olive, deep, etc. There are only three main undertones, however, that inform how your skin tone read, and ultimately how your hair color registers on you: warm, cool, or neutral.
If you have a fair skin tone .
For those with porcelain skin (i.e., fair with pink undertones), a coppery blonde, such Ravello Blonde lights up your creamy skin and makes features pop. If you’re fair but neutral, try a soft auburn with hints of copper and gold, found in Genova Red . Those with fair skin with yellow undertones would look great in this color as well, as it perfectly complements the golden hints in their complexion. Go too vibrant and it can make this skin tone look paler. And for fair ladies with a little olive going on, opt for a light, golden brown with hints of mahogany, like Como Light Brown . Or, you can opt for a 50/50 mix of brown and red for the perfect combination. The main takeaway for this tone: steer clear of the extremes—too orange or too warm—to avoid making fair skin look sallow.
If you have a medium or olive skin tone .. .
Because there’s more pigment in your skin, your complexion can manage deeper, warmer red hair hues with ease. Try a rich auburn, with hints of copper and gold, such as Sardinia Red . And if you’re in the olive family, consider a mahogany brown with hints of gold, like Firenze Brown . Choosing a red with the same undertones as your complexion ensures that you’re working with your skin—not against it (translation: you’ll look like a natural redhead). Golden-tinged reds tend to be the most flattering (vs. cool, blue-based reds like scarlet or crimson), and avoid eggplant or maroon hues as they could make your skin take on a yellowish cast.
If you have a dark skin tone .
There are two schools of thought when it comes to red hair for darker skin. If you’re looking for a more natural look, your best bets are dark auburn to deep golden brown with hints of mahogany, such as Catania Brown . Or, if you’re looking for something a bit more dramatic, reach for a deeper, redder mahogany, such as Trieste Red, which can look stunning against darker skin. Just stay away from orange-y, brassy tones.
Choose from 55+ gorgeous shades
100% Gray Coverage
Red Hair Colors for Gray Coverage
If your goal is to cover gray hairs with a striking hair color shade, look for a formula meant to provide deep coverage. According to Patricia Slattery, Assistant Vice President of Hair Color Education, Training & Testing at L’Oreal, Garnier Nutrisse and Garnier Olia hair color are formulated to cover gray as well as tone your hair.
If you have many grays and want a natural hair color look, opt for one of these two hair dye ranges. When shopping for your perfect red hair shade, choose the box packaging that reads “Nutrisse” or “Olia” and look for shade with only numbers in the title (i.e. Nutrisse Color Creme Darkest Berry Burgundy 362 or Olia Dark Intense Auburn 4.60).
Natural-Looking Red Hair Colors
Sometimes, the statement you want to make with red hair is simply “I was born with this color.” Fortunately, there are plenty of shades of red hair that are designed to give you natural-looking hair color and tone so your hair dye job can be our little secret.
Slattery advises looking for a red hair shade formulated to keep color natural-looking. She recommends a “natural copper” hair color like Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme 643 Light Natural Copper Hair Color or Olia 6.43 Light Natural Auburn Hair Color. Other shades to help you achieve a natural-looking hair color include Nutrisse 535 Medium Golden Mahogany Brown Hair Color, Nutrisse 56 Reddish Brown Hair Color, and Nutrisse 415 Soft Mahogany Brown Hair Color. These shades of red hair are formulated to fit right in your style, depending on your skin tone and eye color. Bonus: they are also created to provide full coverage of gray hairs. Color can help take your hair to the next level, giving the pigment vibrant shine.
Shades of Red Hair for Making a Statement
If you do want to make a bold color statement with your red hair, there are plenty of options for a red hair color shade that wows you every time you look in the mirror.
For bold, vibrant hair color Slattery recommends searching for a shade like “burgundy,” “berry,” or “violet.” Some formulas have words like “intense” in the title, so look for those for rich color payoff.
Some specific shades of red hair are sure to turn heads, says Slattery. Olia Dark Intense Auburn Hair Color and Olia Medium Garnet Red Hair Color are less natural-looking and provide striking color. The entire Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color range is designed to make a statement, she says, and to provide bold hair color and impact.
Whether you want to turn heads or trick your friends with your red hair, there’s a hair color shade for you within Nutrisse, Olia, or Ultra Color.
